A Belfast Youth Escapes the Fray in Witty Solo Show A Midsummer Night's Riot

Street riots between Protestant and Catholic youth are still a regular occurrence during the summer months in Belfast, and these highly-charged ideological clashes take center stage in Irish playwright Rosemary Jenkinson's A Midsummer Night's Riot. Told from a very personal, unflinching point-of-view, this solo show tells the story of Ross, an Irish youth who dreams of being the famous professional golfer Rory McIlroy. With no cash for golf clubs and no place to practice but in the middle of the nightly street riots, soon the only ones noticing Ross' killer swing are the riot police. Following Jenkinson's acclaimed shows Basra Boy and Cuchullain (both of which also premiered at Keegan Theatre), A Midsummer Night's Riot is poised to be another solo tour-de-force filled with Jenkinson's wicked wit, piercing humanity and biting humor.

Reviews & Ratings

Educational: I never before understood the depths of the problems between the Protestants and Catholics and how economics and unemployment can add negatively to the mix so that only the drama of continual conflict/fighting can alleviate boredom.

Although I'm not a big theater buff, I thought this show sounded interesting. I did feel like I learned something about the current situation in Belfast, which I had not realized even though I traveled there a few years ago. However, the...continued

This was the 3rd of the Rosemary Jenkinson plays I have attended at Keegan featuring Josh Sticklin chronicling the lives of the young in Northern Ireland. I believe this was my favorite. The story showcased the life of Ross, a young man whose...continued